FOX SPORTS NCAA FB POWER RANKINGS

Last week: W, at USC 53-32
Next up: Washington
Why Oregon Should Be No. 1: This is almost getting too easy for the Ducks. After making USC look like UAB, Oregon has yet to be held below 42 points in a game this season. This is on

Last week: W, at USC 53-32
Next up: Washington
Why Oregon Should Be No. 1: This is almost getting too easy for the Ducks. After making USC look like UAB, Oregon has yet to be held below 42 points in a game this season. This is one of the more explosive and potent attacks in the history of the game, and the defense can play a little, too.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: If the takeaways ever dry up, the Oregon defense could be in trouble. In part because of their own offense's short drives, the D tends to give up plenty of yards and can be vulnerable to physical, north-south running games. Fortunately, there aren't many of those in the Pac 10.

Last week: W, at Ole Miss 51-31
Next up: Chattanooga
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: At this stage of a perfect season, every game qualifies as a potential bear trap for Auburn. The Tigers cleared this latest hurdle with room t

Last week: W, at Ole Miss 51-31
Next up: Chattanooga
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: At this stage of a perfect season, every game qualifies as a potential bear trap for Auburn. The Tigers cleared this latest hurdle with room to spare, gutting the Ole Miss defense for 51 points and almost 600 diverse yards.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: It's a good thing for Cam Newton and the Auburn playmakers because the defense continues to be a little spotty. The Tigers allowed some big plays and gave up at least 31 points for the third time in the last four games.

Last week: W, Louisiana Tech 49-20
Next up: Hawaii
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: For the fourth straight week, the Broncos went unchallenged against a lesser opponent. They rank among the nation's leaders in total defense and

Last week: W, Louisiana Tech 49-20
Next up: Hawaii
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: For the fourth straight week, the Broncos went unchallenged against a lesser opponent. They rank among the nation's leaders in total defense and have a proven winner under center, junior Kellen Moore.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Even in a 29-point win, Boise State failed to impress the country Tuesday night. It struggled a little too much with 3-5 Louisiana Tech, allowing almost 400 total yards and lacking crisp offensive execution.

Last week: Did Not Play
Next up: at LSU
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: On sheer talent, the Tide has it all. The offense might need to find the running game again, but the passing attack is growing and Greg McElroy is getting

Last week: Did Not Play
Next up: at LSU
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: On sheer talent, the Tide has it all. The offense might need to find the running game again, but the passing attack is growing and Greg McElroy is getting better and better. The defense will improve as it gets more experience, and the talent is undeniable. The team possesses balance on offense and has allowed an average of only 12 points a game.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: The last three games haven't exactly been vintage 'Bama. The Tide got embarrassed by the Gamecocks, and played uninspired in recent wins over Ole Miss and Tennessee.

Last week: Did Not Play
Next up: at Purdue
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Few programs had a better October than Wisconsin, which beat Iowa on the road and Ohio State in consecutive weeks. Its only loss came in East Lansing ag

Last week: Did Not Play
Next up: at Purdue
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Few programs had a better October than Wisconsin, which beat Iowa on the road and Ohio State in consecutive weeks. Its only loss came in East Lansing against Michigan State, one of the Big Ten's premier programs of 2010.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: As well as the Badgers played last month, the D showed vulnerabilities, allowing an average of 26 points in four games. The secondary was especially leaky, giving up three touchdown passes in all but the Buckeye game.

Last week: W, at Minnesota 52-10
Next up: Penn State (Nov. 13)
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Buckeyes have been very crisp since the lone loss to Wisconsin, whacking Purdue and Minnesota by a combined score of 101-10. The

Last week: W, at Minnesota 52-10
Next up: Penn State (Nov. 13)
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Buckeyes have been very crisp since the lone loss to Wisconsin, whacking Purdue and Minnesota by a combined score of 101-10. The defense has been a rock all season, ranking among the nation's best in many statistical categories.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: There's not a lot to nit-pick about Ohio State, which even got to the quarterback a handful of times for a change. This win over a bad Gopher team, though, doesn't answer questions about October road struggles with Illinois and the Badgers. The Nov. 20 showdown with Iowa will be in Iowa City.

Last week: W, UNLV 48-6
Next up: at Utah
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Even with a trip to unbeaten Utah on deck, the Horned Frogs continued to go through their schedule unchallenged, whipping the Rebels. It was the fifth str

Last week: W, UNLV 48-6
Next up: at Utah
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Even with a trip to unbeaten Utah on deck, the Horned Frogs continued to go through their schedule unchallenged, whipping the Rebels. It was the fifth straight time that the D allowed less than seven points to an opponent.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: While the rout of Baylor looks better with each passing week, TCU's overall schedule remains a question mark. As other contenders were getting tested in October, its toughest game was against Air Force, which has dropped three straight.

Last week: W, Missouri 31-17
Next up: at Iowa State
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Even without QB Taylor Martinez for much of the game, the Huskers knocked a team from the ranks of the unbeaten for a second straight week. The

Last week: W, Missouri 31-17
Next up: at Iowa State
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Even without QB Taylor Martinez for much of the game, the Huskers knocked a team from the ranks of the unbeaten for a second straight week. The secondary was spectacular, holding QB Blaine Gabbert to his worst game of the year.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Martinez's injury should have everyone in Lincoln holding their collective breath. RB Roy Helu bailed Nebraska out in Week 9, but it's clearly not the same team without No. 3 taking snaps. That Texas loss is looking worse and worse.

Last week: L, at Nebraska 31-17
Next up: at Texas Tech
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: One game cannot -- and should not -- define a program, especially one that played so well for the first seven weeks. The Tigers ran head-fir

Last week: L, at Nebraska 31-17
Next up: at Texas Tech
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: One game cannot -- and should not -- define a program, especially one that played so well for the first seven weeks. The Tigers ran head-first into a very good Nebraska team that's playing well and was playing at home.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: The running game isn't there in a pinch. Blaine Gabbert did what he could against the fired up Husker secondary, but he couldn't do it all alone, and the ground attack wasn't there to pick up the slack when the team needed a steadying force early on. The loss of DT Dominique Hamilton might be a killer for the front. It was against Nebraska.

Last week: W, Colorado 43-10
Next up: at Texas A&M
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Sooners had no trouble with the Buffs, bouncing back from their only loss to win going away. With plenty of help from big-play WR Ryan Broyl

Last week: W, Colorado 43-10
Next up: at Texas A&M
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Sooners had no trouble with the Buffs, bouncing back from their only loss to win going away. With plenty of help from big-play WR Ryan Broyles, Landry Jones has evolved into one of the game's better quarterbacks, throwing 21 touchdowns and five picks.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Against better opponents, the defense remains a concern, allowing more than 400 yards on four separate occasions. While there's talent on that side of the ball, it's not a vintage Oklahoma D.

Last week: Did Not Play
Next up: Alabama
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Tigers' only loss of the year came at Auburn two weeks ago. The defense ranks among the nation's stingiest, allowing just 15 points and 277 yards a ga

Last week: Did Not Play
Next up: Alabama
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Tigers' only loss of the year came at Auburn two weeks ago. The defense ranks among the nation's stingiest, allowing just 15 points and 277 yards a game.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: While the defense is Top 25 caliber, the offense hasn't even been up to FBS standards. LSU is near the bottom of the SEC overall, and has thrown just three touchdown passes over the last seven games.

Last week: W, Air Force 28-23
Next up: TCU
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The win at Air Force is more impressive than it might seem when you factor in the distraction of next week's visit from TCU. The D played well against t

Last week: W, Air Force 28-23
Next up: TCU
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The win at Air Force is more impressive than it might seem when you factor in the distraction of next week's visit from TCU. The D played well against the Falcon option, keeping it in check until Tim Jefferson broke loose in the fourth quarter.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: We're still waiting. OK, so a win at Air Force is decent, but where's the game that's going to compel voters to move the Utes up higher? They get their chance next Saturday when the Frogs hop into town. Utah has played the easiest schedule of anyone in the BCS top 25.

Last week: W, at Washington 41-0
Next up: Arizona
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: It's difficult to imagine a more perfect game than the one the Cardinal spun on Saturday night. On the road in Seattle, it treated Washington lik

Last week: W, at Washington 41-0
Next up: Arizona
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: It's difficult to imagine a more perfect game than the one the Cardinal spun on Saturday night. On the road in Seattle, it treated Washington like a Big Sky team, holding the Huskies off the scoreboard and to just over 100 yards of total offense.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Unless you're Jim Harbaugh, forget about finding any fault in Stanford's effort at Washington. If you want to knock the Cardinal, look at a schedule that has just one notable win, the last-second defeat of USC three weeks ago.

Last week: W, at UCLA 29-21
Next up: at Stanford
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Wildcats remained on course without starting QB Nick Foles, using almost 400 yards of total offense from backup Matt Scott for a third straigh

Last week: W, at UCLA 29-21
Next up: at Stanford
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Wildcats remained on course without starting QB Nick Foles, using almost 400 yards of total offense from backup Matt Scott for a third straight win. RB Keola Antolin has also perked up lately, providing a balanced attack.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: As potent as Arizona was in Pasadena, it has to do a much better job in the red zone, as evidenced by Alex Zendejas' three field goals. Nearly 600 yards of total offense ought to produce more than 29 points.

Last week: W, Michigan State 37-6
Next up: at Indiana
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Hawkeyes could not have recovered any better from last week's crushing defeat at the hands of Wisconsin, handing the Spartans their first

Last week: W, Michigan State 37-6
Next up: at Indiana
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Hawkeyes could not have recovered any better from last week's crushing defeat at the hands of Wisconsin, handing the Spartans their first loss. Iowa's only two losses are against Arizona and the Badgers, who are 14-2 combined.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: While Iowa was beyond criticism against MSU, it's still a program that has faltered defensively in key spots, namely in the two defeats. While the overall body of work is outstanding, it did yield 65 points vs. Arizona and Wisconsin when the defensive front didn't play as well as it should've.

Last week: W, Tennessee 38-24
Next up: Arkansas
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: A healthy Marcus Lattimore made all the difference for the Gamecock offense, which got 184 yards on the ground from the rookie and three total touc

Last week: W, Tennessee 38-24
Next up: Arkansas
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: A healthy Marcus Lattimore made all the difference for the Gamecock offense, which got 184 yards on the ground from the rookie and three total touchdowns from QB Stephen Garcia.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: South Carolina hasn't exactly been putting teams away since the upset of No. 1 Alabama. Over the last three games, it lost to Kentucky and took a while to shake Vandy and Tennessee, allowing more than 300 yards through the air to the Vols Saturday.

Last week: L, at Iowa 37-6
Next up: Minnesota
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: There's no shame in losing a game in Iowa City, especially at a school that had played so well throughout the month of October. With what's left on t

Last week: L, at Iowa 37-6
Next up: Minnesota
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: There's no shame in losing a game in Iowa City, especially at a school that had played so well throughout the month of October. With what's left on the schedule, there's no reason the Spartans can't head into the postseason 11-1.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: There are losses and then there are the kinds of blowouts that leave a lasting impression in the minds of voters. Saturday's game at Iowa was the latter, a rout from which Michigan State will have a tough time recovering.

Last week: W, at Kansas State 24-14
Next up: Baylor
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Cowboys are now 3-0 outside Stillwater following a solid rebound road win in Manhattan. Without star WR Justin Blackmon, the defense steppe

Last week: W, at Kansas State 24-14
Next up: Baylor
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Cowboys are now 3-0 outside Stillwater following a solid rebound road win in Manhattan. Without star WR Justin Blackmon, the defense stepped up for a change, holding Wildcat RB Daniel Thomas under four yards a carry.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: When Oklahoma State got tested a week ago by Nebraska at home, it folded in a 51-41 loss. As well as the D played against Kansas State, history says that was an anomaly rather than the beginning of a trend.

Last week: W, Vanderbilt 49-14
Next up: at South Carolina
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: After a slow start and an early deficit, the high-powered Razorback offense took over, scoring the final 43 points to handle Vandy. Ryan

Last week: W, Vanderbilt 49-14
Next up: at South Carolina
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: After a slow start and an early deficit, the high-powered Razorback offense took over, scoring the final 43 points to handle Vandy. Ryan Mallett is back to his old self, throwing for more than 400 yards and three scores.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Better running teams will hurt this Hog defense, which gives up more than four yards a carry. The Commodores didn't hurt it, but Marcus Lattimore, Vick Ballard, and Stevan Ridley could in upcoming games.

Last week: Did Not Play
Next up: Georgia Tech
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: This is a completely different team than the one that stumbled to an 0-2 start, winning the last six games by a wide margin. The Tyrod Taylor-led off

Last week: Did Not Play
Next up: Georgia Tech
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: This is a completely different team than the one that stumbled to an 0-2 start, winning the last six games by a wide margin. The Tyrod Taylor-led offense has been the key, scoring at least 41 points in five of those games.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: As well as the Hokies have played, who have they beaten? The last three victims were Duke, Wake Forest, and Central Michigan in Blacksburg. Beginning this week, we'll get a much better feel for this untested Tech team.

Last week: W, at Texas 30-22
Next up: at Oklahoma State
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Bears have started to roll behind the backfield combination of QB Robert Griffin and RB Jay Finley. They've won three straight, includi

Last week: W, at Texas 30-22
Next up: at Oklahoma State
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Bears have started to roll behind the backfield combination of QB Robert Griffin and RB Jay Finley. They've won three straight, including Saturday in Austin, and have only lost games in Lubbock and Fort Worth to 9-0 TCU.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: By no means will Baylor be sporting a surly defense in the postseason. The unit has given up at least 40 points three times, and has been soft on third downs.

Last week: W, Purdue 44-10
Next up: at Michigan
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Are there any other teams from Indiana left on the schedule? Illinois is a win from bowl eligibility after routing the Hoosiers and the Boilermaker

Last week: W, Purdue 44-10
Next up: at Michigan
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Are there any other teams from Indiana left on the schedule? Illinois is a win from bowl eligibility after routing the Hoosiers and the Boilermakers by a combined score of 87-23 in consecutive weeks.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Illinois continues to feast on the softest portion of the schedule. Yeah, Penn State in Happy Valley was nice, but against Missouri, Ohio State and Michigan State, the Illini averaged only 11 points in three losses.

Last week: L, Oregon 53-32
Next up: Arizona State
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Even in losing for the third time in the last four games, the Trojans continued to show plenty of punch on offense. They've put up at least 31 po

Last week: L, Oregon 53-32
Next up: Arizona State
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Even in losing for the third time in the last four games, the Trojans continued to show plenty of punch on offense. They've put up at least 31 points in each of the last six games and rank No. 13 overall at 479 yards a game.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: The defense is absolutely toothless, especially when the ball is in the air. After getting shredded by Oregon's Darron Thomas, USC has yielded 19 touchdown passes, more than double its number of picks.

Last week: W, Idaho 45-10
Next up: at Boise State
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Warriors have become the next best thing to the Broncos in the WAC. Winners of six straight, they're getting it done on both sides of the bal

Last week: W, Idaho 45-10
Next up: at Boise State
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Warriors have become the next best thing to the Broncos in the WAC. Winners of six straight, they're getting it done on both sides of the ball and dominating turnover margin. The offense is humming, showing a little bit of a running game too.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: OK, there was the upset of Nevada two weeks ago and, well, that's about it as notable wins go. If Hawaii is truly worthy of a promotion, it'll take control of the conference and end Boise State's national title run this weekend.

Last week: W, Utah State 56-42
Next up: at Idaho
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Pack boasts one of the nation's top offenses, ringing up 42 points and 520 yards a game. The WAC's version of Oregon, Nevada goes up-tempo and

Last week: W, Utah State 56-42
Next up: at Idaho
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Pack boasts one of the nation's top offenses, ringing up 42 points and 520 yards a game. The WAC's version of Oregon, Nevada goes up-tempo and is prolific on the ground behind QB Colin Kaepernick and RB Vai Taua.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: The loss to Hawaii two weeks ago really hurts Nevada's upward mobility, as does a defense that allowed six second-half touchdowns to Utah State on Saturday.

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